Date:20/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/20/stories/2008082052721300.htm

National

Mahanta leaves ‘unification’ issue to AGP

Sushanta Talukdar

Guwahati: The former Assam Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, on Tuesday said the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) should decide what it should do on unification of regional parties in view of the stand taken by the All-Assam Students’ Union (AASU) that he be kept out the unification process.

The AASU had told the 11-member AGP committee on unification headed by executive president of the regional party Phanibhusan Choudhury last week that the student body too wanted unification of regional parties and forces, but the unification should be minus Mr. Mahanta. The AASU submitted a list of 11 charges against Mr. Mahanta to back their opposition to his inclusion in the unification process.

Mr. Mahanta, however, denied the charges and said that despite limitations, the AGP government led by him had initiated a host of measures for implementation of the Assam Accord and for detection and deportation of foreigners.